Salie said there would be lots of group hugs at the office in New York’s Tribeca district, where the 13 staffers work. “It’s been like hosting a year-and-a-half-long cocktail party with the most amazing guests ever,” she told Current.

Noting that 100,000 people were downloading podcasts of the show — approaching the broadcast’s weekly cume of 140,000, Ward said the network is considering whether it could make a go of a less-expensive web-only show.

Foundations were more interested in backing the show than PRI expected, Ward said. The Gates and Skoll foundations are on board this week.